Albany Med nurses vote to unionize

Exterior of Albany Medical Center on Friday, April 6, 2018, on New Scotland Ave. in Albany, N.Y. Nurses at Albany Medical Center will vote next week on whether to join the New York State Nurses Association, the state's largest nursesO union. (Will Waldron/Times Union) less

Exterior of Albany Medical Center on Friday, April 6, 2018, on New Scotland Ave. in Albany, N.Y. Nurses at Albany Medical Center will vote next week on whether to join the New York State Nurses Association, the ... more

Exterior of Albany Medical Center on Friday, April 6, 2018, on New Scotland Ave. in Albany, N.Y. Nurses at Albany Medical Center will vote next week on whether to join the New York State Nurses Association, the state's largest nursesO union. (Will Waldron/Times Union) less

Exterior of Albany Medical Center on Friday, April 6, 2018, on New Scotland Ave. in Albany, N.Y. Nurses at Albany Medical Center will vote next week on whether to join the New York State Nurses Association, the ... more

After a three-year organizing effort, a majority of nurses at Albany Medical Center voted to accept representation by the New York State Nurses Association.

According to Albany Med, votes cast Thursday and Friday were 1,161 in favor, 582 against. Wages, benefit and retirement were key issues. The count was completed early Saturday. That morning, both sides pledged to work with each other.

"We look forward to Albany Medical Center coming to the table as soon as soon as possible to begin contract negotiations," the union said.

The medical center thanked all its nurses, regardless of how they voted, for their professionalism, passion they have for their work and community service.

"We pledge to continue delivering the highest quality of care in the region and maintaining an open dialogue with our nurses and all of our employees on how to best provide care in the ever-changing healthcare environment," the statement said.

Nurses will now join the Nurses Association, the state's largest nursing union, representing 40,000 members.

More than a decade ago, the nurses voted against three unionization attempts — in 2000, 2001 and 2003. The first time, it failed by a single vote.

Their numbers have grown dramatically since then to about 2,200 voting-eligible nurses. Unionized nursing has also become much more common in New York.

The nurses have cited growing concerns about management, as their duties have become more computerized and less patient-centered.

Turnover also seems to be on the rise, nurses said. Nurses come to Albany Med and stay for a few years, and then leave for higher-paying positions elsewhere.

Reports from the union drive caught the attention of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who on March 29 ordered the state Labor Department to investigate complaints of intimidation, threats and coercion by hospital administration ahead of the election.

It prompted a strong reaction from Albany Med CEO James Barba, who in a memo to staff the next day accused the union of spreading false allegations and said it was "pro-Albany Med employees" who had been subjected to bullying.

Cuomo, a Democrat facing re-election this year and locked in a primary battle with actress and activist Cynthia Nixon, issued a statement after the vote.

"Congratulations to the registered nurses of Albany Med for standing up for their rights to organize and fight for stronger benefits, wages, and staffing schedules — they will be stronger for it," the governor said. "New York is a union state, and we believe in the power of organized labor to fight for fairness, decency and respect."

Results do not become official until the NLRB issues its certification of results, which Albany Med expects to happen in about seven days, barring the filing of any objections.